NBA rumors

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid has agreed on a new three-year, $42 million deal with a player option, his agents tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Undrafted out of LSU, Reid had his best season with 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Phoenix Suns are moving forward with the plan of keeping Deandre Ayton to play alongside Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, league sources tell Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.

According to Jake Fischer, the San Antonio Spurs are in the market for another Lottery Pick in tonight’s Draft so they can reform the French duo of Victor Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly in Texas.

The big man since his arrival in the States has spoken several times about the potential of his teammate with the Metropolitans 92, and apparently the Front Office will try to satisfy him.

By now, everyone knows he deserves to be top 10. But not enough realize he deserves to be top 5 🤫 https://t.co/xmBexcuQgc

— Wemby (@vicw_32) June 4, 2023

Coulibaly is currently projected at No. 12 by ESPN, a pick owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The New Orleans Pelicans have recently reached out to Zion Williamson in an effort to mend their strained relationship.

Williamson and David Griffin had a meeting about the offseason last week at the team’s headquarters. Williamson met with Gayle Benson with the help of Griffin as well. Source: The conference was largely constructive.

If he thought it was necessary, Benson volunteered to have a directer channel of communication with Williamson in the future.

The Pelicans are “fairly unlikely” to deal Williamson before Thursday’s draft, according to a number of sources, The Athletic reports. Scoot Henderson, who will likely go No. 2 to the Charlotte Hornets or No. 3 to the Portland Trail Blazers, is a player who the Pelicans are interested in choosing.

According to sources speaking to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the three teams—the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Memphis Grizzlies—agreed to a three-team deal late Wednesday night that sent center Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics, guard Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies, and guard Tyus Jones to the Wizards.

According to sources, the Celtics are giving Washington the 35th choice in Thursday’s lottery, while Memphis is sending Boston its first-round pick in Thursday’s draft, the 25th overall pick, as well as the Golden State Warriors’ top-four protected first-round pick in 2024. According to reports, the Celtics are also sending center Mike Muscala and forward Danilo Gallinari to Washington as part of the transaction.

After the two teams first tried to work out a three-team deal with the LA Clippers that would have sent Malcolm Brogdon to Los Angeles, the 30th pick in the draft to the Wizards, and Porzingis to the Celtics, the trade concluded a long day of negotiations involving a potential Porzingis deal.

But once that agreement broke down, Boston changed course and began talking to Memphis, which allowed this agreement to be reached shortly before the deadline.

Celtics, Wizards, Clippers are closing in on a trade sending Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, Malcolm Brogdon to L.A., and Marcus Morris and draft compensation to Washington, sources tell The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Clippers are expected to trade No. 30 in Thursday’s NBA Draft to the Wizards as part of this three-team trade, sources said. Washington nets a first-rounder for aiding Porzingis opt in-and-trade. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Washington will also receive Amir Coffey from the Clippers.

Updated financial figures for the 2023-24 NBA season nears the 10 percent maximum increase, league informed teams today:

– $136 million salary cap, $2M higher than prior projection
– $165 million luxury tax level, $3M higher than prior

The Denver Nuggets are trading 2024 first-round pick and 2023 40th pick to the Indiana Pacers for No. 29 and 32 on Thursday, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nuggets are trading the least favorable of its 2024 first-round picks in deal to move into the first-round and early second in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Montrezl Harrell will not exercise his $2.7 million player option to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The center will become an unrestricted free agent.

Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell is declining his $2.7 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 21, 2023

Gary Trent Jr plans to exercise the 18.5 million option for next season included in his contract with the Toronto Raptors, Chris Haynes reports.

The Duke product would like to stay in Canada, both sides would be interested in an extension.

This year Trent Jr scored 17.4 points per game with 37% from beyond the arc and 1.6 steals against just 0.8 turnovers.

Gary Trent Jr. wants to remain with the Toronto Raptors and both sides will work on a longer term deal.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 20, 2023

Portland Trail Blazers increasingly at the center of NBA rumors when we are now just over 48 hours away from the 2023 Draft.

According to Jake Fischer, the team would be determined to significantly improve the roster, and could trade the 3rd pick in the Draft only for a high-profile player. The reporter points to Bam Adebayo as the main target, and Paul George among potential alternatives.

Portland has reportedly tried in the past to strike a deal for the Heat big man, who has a great relationship with Dame Lillard.

The reporter reveals that the Front Office is preparing a major offer to convince Pat Riley.

It will not be easy, as Adebayo is a key player for Miami on both ends of the court.

The Heat would be willing to consider a ‘package’ including Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 3 pick and Anfernee Simons.

Michael Scotto of Hoopshype talks about the future of Fred VanVleet, among the top unrestricted free agents available starting July 1.

Several insiders expect the Wichita State product to sign a multi-year, 30-million-a-season deal.

The reporter lists the Rockets, Lakers, Suns, Magic and Raptors among the teams interested.

Ime Udoka, Houston’s new coach, has reportedly asked for an experienced point guard to lead the group, and VanVleet fits the bill perfectly. The Texas team will have about $60 million to spend in free agency.

The Lakers could only get VanVleet in a sign-and-trade, likely with D’Angelo Russell headed to Canada.

Phoenix could put together a trade with a package similar to the one offered for Bradley Beal (Chris Paul+Landry Shamet, picks).

VanVleet ended last year with averages of 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals, and just 2 turnovers.

The former Wichita State was also the best in the league for ‘deflection’ (262 in 69 games)

The Phoenix Suns are looking at retooling their roster around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The Suns are reportedly looking into trades for Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics and John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Both Brogdon and Collins are under contract for the next two seasons, with Collins having also a guaranteed deal in 2025-26.

Trading for a player with a salary as large as Brogdon’s or Collins’ would require Chris Paul to be traded, with a significant chunk of his $30.8 million contract for next season to be guaranteed.

The Washington Wizards have granted their star, Bradley Beal, and his representatives permission to speak with franchises he is fond of, according to sources reported by B/R.

Beal and the Wizards have agreed to collaborate to find a new home for the player, should the franchise decide to undertake a rebuild. Beal has not requested a trade, sources say.

It is believed that Beal will only consider teams with a possibility of winning the title.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Danilo Gallinari has exercised the $6.8 million option for the 2023-24 season included in his contract with the Boston Celtics.

Gallinari has not yet debuted with Boston due to the serious knee injury he suffered last summer with the Italian national team.

Gallinari owns NBA Career-Averages of 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, with a career high of 19.8 points per game in the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Clippers.